Is ‘Septic Safe’ Really Safe? What Consumers Need to Know About Household Products and Septic Systems
During this year’s annual “Septic Systems 101” webinar held by our sister program The Private Well Class, our team received an excellent question from an audience member:
“Lots of consumer products say they are ‘septic safe,’ but I’m skeptical. Should I be?”
The short answer is yes: You should very much be skeptical. “Septic safe” is not an official credential that is certified by a governmental or non-profit agency, such as commonly known labels like Energy Star, USDA Organic, and NSF Certification are; nor are there numerous different certifications available for “septic safe” products like you may find for products that are supposedly fair trade, sustainably forested, cruelty-free, etcetera.
(Of course, not all certifications of the types listed above are created equally either. Some can be misleading to the extent of their claims, or are not independently verified by a third party. But that is an issue for another program’s blog to cover!)
However, when it comes to products labeled “septic safe,” this is not necessarily a lie just because it’s not a real certification. Manufacturers and marketers are adding this label to increase the appeal of their products to septic-owning consumers, and sometimes they are right about the products’ septic safety, and sometimes they are… less right. As such, it would certainly be helpful if an independent, third-party verified, certification label for septic safe products did exist. But as it is, the onus falls on the responsible consumer to be discerning and to know what to look for in products that are genuinely safe for their septic systems.
Here is some guidance that can help consumers make these determinations.
Know the Three Ps
The first thing to remember is that the only substances truly intended to be flushed down a toilet and then enter a septic tank are the Three Ps: Pee, poop, and toilet paper. When at all possible, nothing else should go down a toilet connected to a septic system. Urine and feces are what septic systems are specifically designed to break down and disperse, and the composition of toilet paper allows it to completely dissolve when flushed, posing no inhibition to the functioning of wastewater systems (septic or sewer).
The Three Ps rule therefore prohibits a number of solid products from flushing into a septic system that are commonly warned against going into any toilet: Menstrual products, paper towels, facial tissues, diapers, etcetera. But perhaps the most important product to remember to avoid flushing into a septic system are wipes. Yes, there is a wide range of wipes available on the market that are labeled as “flushable.” Unfortunately, this isn’t really true.
Wipes marketed as flushable will break down to a greater extent than regular wet wipes, but they do not completely dissolve as toilet paper does and will still pose clogging and blockage issues to all types of wastewater systems. So because “flushable” wipes maintain their structure despite easily flushing down the toilet, the more wipes that are flushed, eventually pipes will clog and septic tanks will fill up. This will invariably require costly repairs to remove the wipes from pipes and tanks, and if the situation is bad enough, a complete septic system replacement may be needed.
The bottom line: There is no wipe that is truly “septic safe.”
Watch the video below, from the YouTube channel of Australian water and wastewater utility Icon Water, to see for yourself the difference in flushability of toilet paper, “flushable” wipes, “unflushable” wet wipes, and paper towels. Each one is spun in a jar for 30 minutes to demonstrate their capacity to break down.
Other Products and Substances to Keep Out of Septics
While it would be ideal if only the Three Ps ever entered a septic system, this is not realistic. After all, it’s not only the toilet connected to the system, but typically every sink, shower, and laundry drain in a home too. Kitchens and bathrooms (not to mention toilets themselves) need to be cleaned, and soap residue from our bodies, laundry, and dishes also inevitably goes down drains.
We will get to safe cleaning products in the next section, but here we will list some of the most essential substances that shouldn’t go down drains, whether purposefully or accidentally.
Products that will clog up a septic system include cat litter, dental floss, pharmaceuticals, cooking grease, and coffee grounds. Toxic compounds to keep out that often really shouldn’t be entering a home anyway include paint thinners, gas, oil, insecticides, weed killers, and solvents.
But there are also products for in-home use that are generally safe to use in a home on a municipal sewer that should be kept out of septic systems. For instance, water softener salt may harm the bacteria in a septic system that are essential to its functioning. Bleach, drain cleaners (especially those containing bleach), laundry detergents which contain phosphates, and the antimicrobial chemical methylisothiazolinone (found in many cleaners) are also typically harmful to tank bacteria.
That said, we will note that chlorine bleach is often the most effective household disinfectant option available to many homeowners. If bleach is used sparingly at the minimum amount to disinfect for applications connected to a septic system, the tank bacteria can generally survive. But, it should be emphasized that introducing bleach into a septic system is truly not ideal and should be done very carefully and as few times as possible.
Ultimately, it may be a pain to ensure that none of these substances harm a home’s septic tank, but so is paying for a costly septic repair or replacement!
Qualities of Products and Substances That Are Actually Septic Safe
So, what kind of products can safely be used to clean and disinfect the toilets, sinks, tubs, and showers in a home with a septic system? Generally speaking, the cleaners that should be used are natural ones without synthetic chemicals so that they can easily biodegrade in the septic tank without harming the tank’s bacteria. To be abundantly clear, these cleaners should be non-toxic, biodegradable, non-antibacterial, and non-chlorine.
It’s possible to both buy these kinds of natural cleaners at the store, or to make them oneself. These are the ingredients to look for on a label to verify septic safety (or to use when making a DIY solution):
- Distilled white vinegar
- Baking soda
- Borax
- Lemon juice
- Salt
When buying natural cleaners, they should be water-based — As in, water is the first listed ingredient.
Store-bought detergents for laundry and dishes should generally be safe for septic as long as they do not contain phosphates.
Finally, when considering a store-bought product that does have a septic safe label, consumers should check the ingredients list for any of the substances listed here as either allowed or not allowed. If this doesn’t completely clear up the question of septic safety, we recommend researching online to verify if this product is truly safe to use.
Certifications That May Be Helpful to Check
While there is no proper “septic safe” credential for any kind of household product, there are some certifications that may help to shine some light on the suitability of cleaning products for septic systems. The EWG Verified® and Safer Choice certifications — provided by the Environmental Working Group and the US Environmental Protection Agency, respectively — are standards for a wide range of consumer and household products considered to be safer and healthier for human use and exposure.
If a cleaning product has either of these labels, or can be found in their databases, it has a reasonably higher likelihood of septic safety. But, again, their ingredients should be double-checked to be sure! Products without these labels can also be septic safe — Their manufacturers just haven’t requested these particular certifications.
Sources and Further Reading
- Safe and Unsafe Products for Your Septic | Wind River Environmental
- Wipes, Toilet Paper, & the Real Meaning of “Septic Safe” | Wind River Environmental
- Septic Safe Products and the Ones to Avoid | AspenClean
- Your Guide to the Best Septic-Safe Cleaning Products | Johnson Septic Service